"Virat Kohli Was Pulled Back"- Ravi Shastri’s Shocking Revelation

Virat Kohli Ravi Shastri. Image Credits: AFP

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed how he had to once pull back Virat Kohli as he was about to get into a fight with a famous Australian cricketer. This incident pertains to the 2014 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series.

This was the series in which Virat Kohli made his debut as India's Test captain midway through the series. This was because MS Dhoni had announced his retirement from Tests after playing two Tests, and vice-captain Virat Kohli was given the reins of the Indian Test team.

Virat Kohli’s first Test series as India Test captain

Virat Kohli had made his India Test debut as captain in Adelaide and smashed twin centuries as well. He scored 115 and 141 but couldn’t keep India from losing the Test by 48 runs as the visitors made a valiant effort to chase down 364 runs in the fourth innings.

Then came the third Test of the series that was played in Melbourne and saw India managing to draw the Test match. Australia made 530 runs, and India replied with 465 as Kohli made 169 and Ajinkya Rahane made 147 runs. In the fourth innings, India was asked to chase 384 runs but only managed 174/6.

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Fight between Virat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson

During this Test match, fans of cricket saw the ultimate battle between a champion batter in Virat Kohli and a scintillating pacer, Mitchell Johnson. Johnson had hit Kohli on the helmet with a searing bouncer, and then Kohli replied with a boundary next over.

One incident stood out where Kohli strayed out of his crease after hitting a shot, and Johnson fired a throw at the stumps but ended up hitting Kohli on the arm, felling him. This led to a verbal encounter between the two cricketers, where they had to be separated by other cricketers and officials.

Ravi Shastri reveals he had to hold Virat Kohli back as he wanted to fight Mitchell Johnson

Ravi Shastri mentioned the 2014 Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour, which is famous for Kohli's Test captaincy debut and his real rise to popularity as India's leader and star for years to come, in response to a query on if he ever had to stop Kohli from picking up a fight.

"Never... not once, once. I'll tell you about it," said Shastri as Kohli laughed alongside him.

"This was Melbourne, right. And he and Mitch were constantly having a go, because the first ball he played, he hit him on the head. And he's off to a start at lunchtime. Both are going up... as he enters the dressing room, he's looking at Mitch like this. I had to catch him like this. Come here, come here; focus on your batting. I think of those days, and sometimes your hair stands on end," he recalled. 

Watch the video below:

Virat Kohli became the first Indian captain to win a Test series in Australia

Kohli had a bittersweet tour of Australia in 2014. While he scored over 600 runs during the four-match series – including his twin tonnes in Adelaide – India lost the series 2-0.

However, when India returned to Australian shores in 2018-19, under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, it was a changed team. Forming a formidable pace attack, Kohli took the attack to Australian batters and led India to a historic 2-1 Test series win, their first-ever over Australia.

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